Improvement in portable fences



0. 1). A. CURRY. Portable Fence.

No. 211,498. Patented Jan. 21,1879.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR:

' I ATTORNEYS.

N.PETERS, PMO'm-LWMQGRAPMER. WASHMGTON, D B.

V UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES D. A. CURRY, OF STONEWALL, VIRGINIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN PORTABLE FENCES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 211,498, dated January 21, 1879 application filed October 10, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES D. A. CURRY, of Stonewall, in the county of Augusta and State of Virginia, have invented a new and Improved Portable Fence, of which the following is a specification:

The object of this invention is to provide a cheap, light, and easily-arranged fence that can be readily transported from one place to another, and set up and accommodated to the inequalities of the ground, and at the same time possesses sufficient strength to answer thepurposes for which it is intended.

The constituent parts of my invention, their relation and arrangement, will be fully set forth in the description.

In the accompanying drawing aperspective view of two panels of a fence embodying my improvements is shown.

Referring to the drawing, A A represent the double posts or uprights joining the ends of the panels, and B is an intermediate post. The panels are composed of three or more boards, a a a, scarfed at each end and in reverse directions', so that the scarfing of the boards in one panel will join with the scarfing in the boards of the next panel, as clearly indicated by the dotted lines in the drawing. The boards comprising each panel are secured at one end by rivets or bolts 1) b b, forming pivots between the two parts A" A of the posts, while at the opposite end they are free. Thus each panel will be supplied with a double post, A A.

Midway of the panel the upright or post B is likewise secured by bolts or rivets passed transversely through, forming pivots. The middle board of the panel, however, is provided at the part crossing the upright B withpin-holes c c, coinciding with similar pin-holes din the upright B, the purpose of which is to permit a pin to be inserted through the upright and board when the fence is set 011 a hill-side, to give stili'ness and rigidity to the panel, the pin-holes being placed in different parts, so as to allow for the changed position of the "i *ard relatively to the poster upright.

C C are braces, one end thrust through the upper board of the panel, and the other end placed in the ground through a metal plate, 0, and provided with a pin, 0', bearing upon the plate, so that a firm support will be given to the fence, that will not yield by running deeper into the ground. These braces are placed one on each side of the fence and to every panel. They support the fence against lateral pressure, and their upper sharpened ends serve as barbs, to repel cattle from rubbing against th fence and throwing it down.

Another form of brace is designated by letters D D, which is designed to support the fence both laterally and in its running direction when set up on very abrupt falls or risin gs in the ground. These are placed at acute or obtuse angles to the length of the fence, and also at acute angles to the side thereof, and preferably every two (one to each panel) in opposite directions to each other, as shown in the drawing.

Thus a double brace is obtained that strengthens the fence against lateral or endwise pressure or strain. Either of these braces may be used alone or in connection with each other. The upper part or ends of the latter braces are also pointed and serve as barbs.

My fence is erected in the following manner: The panels are all made and the parts put together securely. One panel, as E, is then put in place, the ends of the posts or uprights which are sharpened are thrust into the ground, and the braces applied, as shown. The next panel, as E, is then carried forward, and the free ends of the boards, forming the panel, like those indicated by the letters f f f, are placed between the two parts A A of the posts or uprights, forming a splice-connection with the boards of the panel, as indicated by the dotted lines; and the posts of the second panel are thrust into the ground and the braces applied in the same manner as before. In this way the whole fence is erected, as desired.

When rising or falling ground is reached the unfixed end of the panel is lifted or lowered to accommodate the panels to the ground and keep the boards parallel to the same; and

' as the connection of the boards and uprights is by pivots, the necessary freedom of move ment is obtained to allow the uprights to always retain a vertical position whatever the fall or rise in the ground, While the panels themselves will be kept parallel to the ground.

It will thus be seen that the construction of the fence is such that it acts somewhat like a parallel ruler, and will accommodate itself to the most uneven ground.

I am aware that fences have been made by pivoting the boards to the posts, and also that they have been braced by inclined stakes or poles but- What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The braces 0, having pointed ends, and pro- 1 vided with holes in their lower ends for the reception of the pins 0, in combination with the top boards a of the fence-panels and with the plates 6, substantially as and for the purpose described.

(3. D. A. CURRY.

Witnesses:

A. 1 GARDNER, R. A. CURRY. 

